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New ForumHext,
Texas 12-21-10
I enjoyed seeing the picture of the school that I attended
briefly in 1938. At that time it was heated by wood stoves in the class rooms
and had outdoor "privies" (one for boys and one for girls). We played on the cords
of wood that were stacked across the back of the play ground that were used for
heating the schools.
I also attended the church with my grandfather, Maywood
Bethel. It was much more rustic at that time.
My grandfather moved his
gin to Hext in 1920 from Ten Mile Crossing in Menard County where he had operated
it since 1904. The first ginning season that it was operational at Hext was 1921.
The gin burned in the early 1930's and my grandfather operated a metal shop thereafter
until about 1950. I am enclosing a picture of the shop that is still in Hext but
has been padlocked since he died so is just as he left it. Also a picture of his
house that he built himself but has now fallen into ruin. These pictures date
from about 1973.
Besides my grandfather other Bethel family members were
Brooks, Carroll, Sarah and Beth called "Girlie", the three older sons, Lenson,
Ion and Milligan, were away at school before the move was made from the original
site of the gin. My father was Milligan also known as "Jiggs."
Other family
members in the area were the Westbrooks. My grandfather's uncle, Barney McGill
(Uncle Gillie) Westbrook lived just to the south of the site of the gin and farmed
and his son, Barney Westbrook lived just to the west of the site of the metal
shop. Barney Westbrook and his wife, Ethel, had a store, ran the post office and
lived on the premises. - Helen Bethel Williams, December 21, 2010
Posey,
Texas 12-20-10
Subject: Naming of Posey, Texas
I came across
the page that you have published in the magazine concerning the name of Posey,
Texas. Although all the family is pleased and happy to see any commendation of
Uncle Walter S. Posey, he would be the first to point out to you that the information
that you have on the naming of Posey, Texas to be incorrect.
In 1904,
James B. Posey, Walter's father, and Lewis T. Lester purchased the controlling
interest in the First National Bank in Lubbock where Walter S. Posey became the
cashier. Later on, in 1908, the James B. Posey family moved to the farm that they
had purchased that was between Lubbock and Slaton and built a house on what later
proved to be right in the center of the survey of the proposed railroad line right
of way. The family jacked up the house and moved it about a mile north and when
the railroad was established a switch was installed on the site of where the Posey
house had been and so it was called "Posey Switch." Later when a community grew
up around that site, the name was abreviated to "Posey."
Often erroneous
information gets published as fact and, trivial as the above correction may be,
it is the true story of how Posey, Texas was named and does not belittle all the
fine accomplishments and improvements Walter S. Posey brought about for the Lubbock
area. - Sincerely, Mrs. John E. Williams (John E. Williams is a great grandson
of James B. Posey and a great nephew of Walter S. Posey.) December 19, 2010
Schoolhouses
12-17-10
I know of another one room Texas school house in existence.
It is in Culberson county, north of Van Horn. I know it exists, because it was
my childhood school house and my teachers have now converted it into their home.
It sits at the base of the Guadalupe Mtns. It was in use until about 1988. - Erick
Nance, December 08, 2010
Branchville, Texas12-10-10
Old Providence Baptist Church in Branchville
1869 is one of the oldest Black Historic Churches. It is still standing and an
active church. - Tracy Burries-Hall, December 09, 2010
Mueller Bridge
12-10-10
Subject: Bridge at McAlister Crossing (aka Mueller Bridge)
I do not see the historic Mueller Bridge on your collection of historic
bridges of Texas (Wilson County). The Bridge at McAlister Crossing (also known
as Mueller Bridge) was listed in the National Register of Historic Places on October
16, 2007 as Mueller Bridge. It was also placed on Texas' Most Endangered List
in 2006. The bridge was approved for Recorded Texas Historic Landmark designation
in 2004 and a marker was erected in 2005.... more
- Shirley Grammer, November 26, 2010
Crisp, Texas 11-30-10
Ernest Tubb the singer was born in Crisp back
in 1914 and lived there till family moved to Kemp some years later where his folks
later separated. - November 30, 2010
Melungeons in Texas
11-28-10
I have spent decades researching and writing and my novel, “The Drifters:
A Christian Historical Novel About The Melungeon Shantyboat People” is about a
Melungeon family with their lifestyle during the times of the Trail of Tears,
Civil War in Arkansas and participation in the Texas cattle drives. It is basically
a true story but must be called fiction due to connecting the dots of known facts.
This book is in the Texas State Genealogical Archives. If anyone wants to know
what it was like to be from this little known culture plus a part of a very little
known shantyboat people, then this book will fill you in. It needs to be a movie.
The Lawton Constitution’s genealogical columnist compared “The Drifters” to Alex
Haley’s “Roots.” I am a published author, my 7 books can be seen on Amazon. -
Tonya Holmes Shook, November 25, 2010
Lockhart,
Texas 11-28-10
Subject: Historic
Brock Cabin in Lockhart, Tx
- Jeffery Robenalt, November 20, 2010
Sipe
Springs 11-28-10
Subject: From
Burwell to Rockdale
What must it have been like to get on a ship in
1873 and sail away from your home to another country, into the unknown? Robert
and Mary Ann Diver found out....
more
- Jeanne Diver Goff, November 20, 2010
Santa
Anna
Subject: Jefferson County Ghost Town 11-27-10
I hope
this Texas ghost town meets your requirements for publication. - Sincerely,
Reuben H. G., October 16, 2010
Subject: Corn Hill - Ghost
Town
Just bit of additional information: B F Bridges is my gGrandfather.
B F is Benjamin Franklin. He was a confederate soldier from Missouri, serving
as a teamster and was captured and interned in Arkansas. He moved to Texas and
married Penelope Ake. The Akes lived in Willis Creek, exact location unknown.
I cannot find any records of a community by that name although the creek obviously
exists in the Corn Hill area. I know very little about the old family as that
was well before my time and I cannot remember any conversations about those times.
There is a small Ake Cemetery nearby that I have not yet located. - James E
Bridges Lt Col USAF (ret), Austin, Texas, November 06, 2010
Marlin, Texas 11-2-10
Subject:
Looney
Brothers, East Texas Gas, Marlin, Texas, 1947
- Larry W Johnson,
Grapevine, TX, October 31, 2010
Rosebud, Texas
11-1-10
Subject: Rosebud, Texas (formerly Mormon, TX)
In your Forum
"Subject: Naming of Rosebud" there is a statement that says Rosebud, TX never
had a "post office" named "Mormon". Not to be disagreeable, but here attached
is a scan of a postcard postmarked August 27, 1886 that is addressed to Mrs. S.
V. Gott that I think proves otherwise. If there were no post office, then someone
sure knew how to get mail from New York to Mrs. Gott in Mormon, TX in 1886.
The
Gott family were one of the pioneers of Rosebud, TX. I would also like to note
that Mrs. S. V. Gott is the former Miss Susan Virginia Thorn who at one time was
the ward of Sam Houston. Susan Virginia later married Tom Gott, who had worked
as an Overseer for Sam Houston. After Tom Gott died in December 1872, Susan Virginia
and her five children moved to Falls County, TX to live near her brother-in-law,
Samuel Gott. Susan Virginia is buried in the Woodland Cemetery at Rosebud, TX.
Many of her descendants are buried not far away at the Powers Chapel Cemetery
near Wilderville, TX.
The Mormon, TX postcard, when photographed by me,
was in the possession of Virgie Laura Killen Looney, daughter of Julia Sue Gott
Killen, Granddaughter of Tom Green Gott and Great Granddaughter to Susan Virginia
Thorn Gott.
My Great Grandfather, Francis A. Looney and my Grandfather,
Dennis A. Looney were also pioneers of Rosebud, TX. - Larry W. Johnson, Grapevine,
TX, October 30, 2010
Rosebud, Texas
11-1-10
Subject: Rosebud Texas ~ 100 years ago
I am attaching an
image of downtown Rosebud, Texas from a photo that was taken about 100 years ago
(1914?). This was taken in the bygone "Horse and Buggy days". The view is looking
to the west and the old bank building is across the street in the center of the
photo. The photo was given to me by my mother because she knew of my interest
in local history. I'm not sure where she obtained the photo since it pre-dates
her birth too (1925). I'm sure many of the younger generation would enjoy seeing
their town as it looked in the bygone days. - Larry W. Johnson, Grapevine,
TX, October 30, 2010
Pidcoke,
Texas 10-28-10
Subject: Pidcoke old rock school house
I was
hoping to see a photo or a reference to the old rock school house there on the
NW side of town. During WWII the class rooms were used as apartments for families
working at Camp Hood. Although I never attended school there I did attend some
dances held in the gym in the 40's. I spent many a hot day swimming in the Bee
House Creek there as well. - Ken Bates, September 30, 2010
Rusk,
Texas Sunday Drive 10-21-10
Subject: Forest Hill, Alto, TX
I traveled this past weekend to Forest Hill near Alto, TX and was disappointed
to find the home with a no trespassing sign on the house as well as an alarm system
with no one around and no phone number. The home is privately owned. Your magazine
stated that the home is open to the public the second and third weekends in October.
I did take some pictures of the outside of the home although the gate on the property
said posted. Important for others to know.
The Berryman cemetery is owned
by the Berryman family is to the right of the home and difficult to see from the
house and impossible to see from the road. In 2004, a historical marker was placed
in this cemetery. Thanks. - Amanda Guttieri, October 21, 2010
White
Spur, Texas10-21-10
I have attached a letter from the National
Archives that tells the location of White Spur, TX. - Jerry Lobdill, October
21, 2010
Oso,
Texas 10-21-10
Subject: Oso Texas Graveyard
I enjoyed your
listing for Oso Texas and went out to visit myself. I got some additional photos
of the graveyard which may be of interest.
You may want to update the
listing to incorporate the info that this graveyard is a known hangout for rowdy
teens and as such law enforcement keep an eye on visitors. - Brian Milliron,
October 20, 2010
Melvin,
Texas 10-19-10
Subject: Melvin Cemetery
Recently, my sister
and I have been researching our ancestry. I believe our great great grandparents,
Anna E. Carlson and Carl Alfred Nelson, both born in Sweden and died in Texas,
were possibly some of the original Melvinites and helped found the swedish free
mission church. Anna's parents, Carl Carlson and Sarah Carlson were also born
in Sweden, both in 1828, and he died in Iowa. Census records show they immigrated
to Iowa with Anna, but moved to Texas around the time she married Carl Nelson.
We've also been looking into the Johnson's, since my grandma used to tell us Lyndon
B. Johnson was a distant cousin. We haven't found much about that either, though.
We recently took a trip out to the old Melvin cemetery to see their headstone.
We found several other Carlson headstones, who I believe may be relatives. I've
attached a few pictures, as I didn't see any mention of the Melvin cemetery on
your site. The family plots were really something, as were the higher-ranking
officials that died in WWI and WWII. There was even a confederate soldier out
there. We also stopped at the old swedish free mission church and were told that
Nelson was a big family name in that area and were some of the original founders
of the church.
- Marsha Davenport, October 19, 2010
Bronson,
Texas 10-14-10
I grew up in Bronson and would love to add a little
history to the pictures that Mr. Massey has provided. For instance, The 1919 building
is known as the “Cap King Building”. Cap ran a restaurant in the building and
he served in the Texas legislature for a time. Another of the old brick building
is the first Post Office that I remember in Bronson. Also the population grew
to about 3000 at the peak.
Pineland, Bronson, Rosevine, and several smaller
communities make up West Sabine ISD. - Mike Pate, Superintendent, October 14,
2010
Goldthwaite,
Texas 10-12-10
Subject: Mills
County Courthouse
"It seems funny that this central Texas county
was organized after some of the Panhandle counties. One of my favorite articles
on TE is "Sagging Symbols" by
Dwight Young. Mr. Young makes a reference to some of the Texas
courthouses being "the architectural paperweight that kept the town from blowing
away." I think that is certainly true in Goldthwaite." - Terry
Jeanson, October 12, 2010
Post,
Texas 10-7-10
Subject: Photos
from the past of Post, Texas
These photos are from the collection of
my father, the late Dan B. Cockrum of Post. I hope you find them suitable for
your archives. - Dan E. Cockrum, Carlsbad, NM, October 06, 2010
Jeff Davis
County Courthouse 10-5-10
Subject: Jeff
Davis County Courthouse - Turnstiles
I was there this past weekend
and can state that the turnstiles are definately still there. In fact, I looked
up your magazine to figure out what they were for! - Alissa Andersen, Georgetown,
TX, October 3, 2010
Sipe Spring, Texas 10-3-10
[Here are] three pictures of my grand
parents old farm in Sipe Springs. They were Arthur "Pete" and Urilla Diver. They
lived down the hill from Sally Scott and his family. I dearly loved this place
and these people. - Sincerely, Jeanne Diver Goff, September 28, 2010
Fort Ringgold
9-30-10
Subject: Family in Fort Ringgold
The name of the family that
lived in Fort Ringgold was my family the Alberto Gallarado family. My grandfather
was a security guard and bus-driver for many years. We would often stay on the
"campo" and had the entire fort as our playground. We would play in the buses
parked in front of my grandparents home. It has now been dedicated to our family.
I attended the dedication and it was a great honor. - Cecilia Gallardo-Garza,
September 29, 2010
Gray
Mule, Texas 9-30-10
"My grandparents - Otis and Bessie Purcell
- built the first grocery store in Gray Mule 1929. Their fourth child Otis Dean
was born in 1930 in living quarters of the grocery store.
This is a painting
of what Gray Mule looked like back in the 1930's. Dude Purcell, my great uncle,
painted the picture from memory for my Dad Otis Dean Purcell. My family donated
the painting in my dad's memory to the Fairmont Baptist Church in 2005 after my
Dad died. Fairmont Baptist Church is between Gray Mule and Quitaque Texas."
- Renita Purcell Marshall, September 29, 2010
Big
Lump, Texas 9-26-10
I want to thank Dan Scott for his article
about Big Lump and Sipe Spring. I'll be watching for any more information
on these areas. For me, the best place in the world was the little farm of my
Grandparents. Arthur "Pete" and Urilla Diver. They lived just down the hill from
Sally Scott and the old school house. - Sincerely, Jeanne Diver Goff, September
25, 2010
Austin,
Texas 9-24-10
Subject:
"Texas Old Neon" from Austin
Here are a few neon images I took while
in Austin earlier this year. I hope that they can be of use to the Texas Escapes
website. - Thanks, Carl Owen, Beaumont, September 21, 2010
New
Moore, Texas 9-22-10
I started first grade in the New Moore school
and spent most of my first 8 years in that school. I would like to make a correction
to your statement that it is in the panhandle of Texas. It is in fact in the South
Plains of Texas and people who live there would be a little upset with you panhandle
statement. I knew many people there who were Rogers and and Crutcher. Thank you
for publishing Regina Crutcher's "New Moore History". I hope I have been of help.
Thanks, Joe Cooley, September 20, 2010
Canyon, Texas 9-16-10
Subject: Big
Tex in Canyon
Wasn't he originally at Underwoods BBQ on Amarillo Blvd
west? Didn't Levi Strauss make some real Levis to fit him? It's been a long time
but I do remember---apx 1970 or so. - John Whittington, September 16, 2010
Gray
Mule, Texas 9-16-10
Gray Mule was officially named Edgin as
it was at first a place where the trains stopped to put on more water for its
engines which I guess were steam. I am not sure of who started calling it Gray
Mule but it never showed up on maps, and probably neither did Edgin. It was always
called Gray Mule by locals and probably everyone else except the train folks...
more - Billie
Mayhall Freeman, September 16, 2010
Gray
Mule, Texas 9-15-10
Gray
Mule Old Photos
"I started school at Gray Mule and my Dad ran
the store there for a short time. I have some photos of the railroad tunnel and
also of the front of the old store and the large brick walls around parts of it.
My sisters and I (there were four of us) are sitting on the wall with three of
us in the crocheted dresses our mother had made for us. There is also a photo
of my Dad standing in front of the store's plate glass window. There is a small
part shown of the Cotton Gin that was owned or run by the Keisling family. Margaret
Keisling married my first cousin.
We lived beyond Quitaque Creek on a
farm before that then moved into Quitaque where we four girls all graduated high
school, two with honors. The Great Depression / "dust bowl days" were
just ahead of us and life became much harder after that. Those days were "The
Good Ol' Days."
I love your website and going down memory lane regarding
many of the old towns that no longer survive in the Texas Panhandle.
I
have searched for, and found, many places on your website, where we lived, lived
near, visited relatives or friends, played school sports in competition, and for
other occasions, that no longer exist. I printed most of them out and have a stack
that is very high. I read all of them and treasure them. You have made my day
on many occasions.
Thank you so much for that pleasure and for your good
work. " - Billie Mayhall Freeman, Naples, Florida, September 2010
Goodnight, Texas 9-1-10
Was glad to see your information about Goodnight,
TX. My grandparents lived up the road from the cemetery for around 31 years –
late 1940 or so to about 1971 - David Clarence Peden and my grandmother Annie.
The house is gone now but we spent almost every Christmas and summer there. Down
the White Deer highway lived the Sutton Family - and I cannot for the life of
me remember Mr. Sutton’s name. He and his wife and one of their grandchildren
are buried in the Goodnight cemetery. Virgil and Verdie Tyler who lived across
that highway to the west were frequent visitors to my grandparents house and likewise.
I remember my brother and cousins going to the Tyler’s to watch the filming of
HUD – or at least see if they could get a glimpse of the cast. Mr. and Mrs. Newberry
ran the general store and post office just off of Hwy 287 over the train tracks.
One of our favorite activities after dinner was to all walk down to the cemetery
entrance and back – that was our entertainment! At the time there were two abandoned
houses across the road at different intervals and as kids we would make up all
sorts of ghost stories about those houses. Those were the good times! - Nancy
Kelly, Denton, Texas, August 31, 2010
Dido,
Texas 8-26-10
At the north end of Eagle Mountain lies a town that is
forgotten but not lost. We found the slab of the post office at the corner of
Peden Road and FM 1220. The growth of Fort Worth is moving north and the growth
of Alliance Airport is moving south. Right in the middle of both of those growth
booms lies Dido, Texas.
The oldest church in Tarrent County sits here,
the Dido Methodist Church. The Dido Women’s Club are the caretakers of the community
center and the Dido announcements sign. Anchoring the town is Blue Bayou.
It
is a ghost town in all its character and charm. All it needs is a mayor and a
post office box and it will be back to its glory days. [It is] still rich in the
historical sense, as well as the ghostly. Rumors are the bridge at Indian Creek
is where Cullen Davis threw his earthly goods into the lake. Dido dogs still roam
but are eerily quiet for they never seem to bark. There are many parts of the
town where the noise of parties can be heard, but there are no houses or inhabitants
on those spots.
It’s the most well-kept secret in all of Texas. - Dennis
Heerwagen, August 26, 2010
Not any more. - Ed
Sunshine
Hill 8-22-10
My Aunt Euna and Uncle Walter Beck lived at Sunshine Hill
when he worked for Mr. Witcher who was in the oil business. My two sisters went
to school at the one room school house that was behind my Aunt's house. My family
lived somewhere in Sunshine Hill but I was too young to remember where.
We visited the site about 12 years ago and the school house was still there but
I don't know about the house my Aunt and Uncle lived in. We spent many wonderful
days there and have so many good memories. My sisters and I graduated from Iowa
Park High School. My oldest in 1950, the second on 1953 and I in 1954.
Thank you for the information I was able to get from your magazine. - Sincerely,
Beverly Talley Jackson, August 21, 2010
Lometa, Texas 8-22-10
I grew up on a ranch south of Lometa near the
ghost town of Nix west of
Lampasas. As a kid I took a picture of an abandoned victorian mansion about two
miles south of Lometa. I lost the picture but Ive never been able to forget that
house. It was torn down many years ago but thought perhaps someone may have information
or a picture of it? It was located on Co Rd 55 off Fm Rd 3415 off 183/190 south
going towards Lampasas. It was symmetrical in design with two big stone chimneys
& two turrets with steeples on each side of the house. A covered porch with turned
posts wrapped around the front of the house and a balcony was over the top of
the porch with a pediment front off the center of the roof. There was lots of
fancy woodwork, cut shingles, etc. Not typical for most houses around Lampasas
county! - Dave Porter, August 20, 2010
Houston,
Texas 8-14-10
Subject: Gulf
Oil building Houston Texas
Thank you so much for Texas Esapes. My family
and I have planned many day trips from there.
Gulf Oil Building photo
was taken by my Grandfather W.W. Bryant sometime in the early 1970's. I found
the picture in a box full of photos he and my Grandmother had left to us. Unfortunately
gulf air wreaked havoc on it. I restored it to this condition using photoshop.
Best regards. - Walter S. Fuller, Conroe, Texas, August 13, 2010
Shamrock, Texas 8-12-10
Subject: Shamrock Cemetery & The
Wild Bunch
"In the Byler plot in the Shamrock cemetery there's an
unmarked grave--at least it was still unmarked the last time I was there. It contains
Viana (or Vivian, there seems to be some question about her first name) Byler
Carver & her stillborn infant. She was 17 when she died. She was the wife of William
R. 'Will' Carver of Wild Bunch/Hole In The Wall Gang fame & the aunt of Laura
Bullion, who may have been married to Ben Kilpatrick, also of Wild Bunch fame.
Carver was shot & killed by the Sutton County Sheriff, a deputy, & 2 constables,
& is buried in Sonora in what's called the 'No Name Grave.' That's because the
only thing on the gravestone is April 2, 1901. Kilpatrick was killed by Wells,
Fargo agent David A. Trousdale in March of 1912, while he was attempting to rob
the Galveston, Harrisburg, & San Antonio #9 at Baxter's Curve in Terrell County.
He, along with his partner, is buried in Sanderson. Laura Bullion never remarried,
supported herself as a seamstress in Memphis, Tennessee, & died in 1961--the last
of the Wild Bunch to die." - C.
F. Eckhardt, June 25, 2010
Katie
Elder Her True Story
Subject: Doc & Kate photos
I much enjoyed
the writeup on Kate Elder. I noted with interest your evidence that the photos
were wedding photos and I just wanted to comment on your evidence that the lapel
flowers likely being gardenia that would be in bloom in April. I don't think it
is likely that he would have found Gardenia's commonly grow in St. Louis. It is
too cold for them there. Gardenia's are perennial shrubs that can grow in hardiness
zones to as low as 8b (10-15 degrees F). St Louis is hardiness zone 6a (-10 to
-5 degrees F) . Gardenia's would be killed by cold in the St Louis climate. Furthermore,
even in the warmer 8b zone Gardenia's don't normally flower as early as April.
They are late spring to early summer bloomers June-July in my experience.
Old
fashioned Camellias can grow in hardiness zone 7 and do bloom in the early spring.
So they may be a better possibility for the flowers. However, it looks like there
are two small flowers- much smaller than either gardenias or camellias normally
are.
I hope this information is helpful in your historical investigation.
- Ray, May 01, 2010
Subject:
Calhoun
County Courthouse 7-30-10
On the page, Calhoun County Courthouse,
the 1857 courthouse has been misidentified as the courthouse at Indianola. The
courthouse in the picture was built in 1887 and was in Port Lavaca. It was built
by E. L. Miller. The Calhoun County jail building can be seen in the left background...
- George Anne Cormier, Director, Calhoun County Museum 301 S. Ann Port Lavaca,
TX 77979, July 29, 2010
Opdyke,
Texas 7-14-10
Just a line to say that Opdyke, Texas is 5 miles EAST
(not south) of Llevelland on Hwy 114 a half mile west of Fm 2646. The store/gas
station was open until the mid 70's and the Opdyke Coop Gin was the last business
to close.
I have lived at or near three different ghost towns during my
life. My family lived at Frankel City (Andrews county) in the Halliburton camp
during the mid to late 50's. Then moved to a farm south of Draw, Texas (Lynn county)
when my father started farming in 1961. Finally we moved to a farm between Llevelland
and Opdyke in 1964 in Hockley county. I seem to have a knack for closing small
towns.
I have enjoyed reading the stories and looking at pictures of Texas
on your web site. - George Childress Jr., July 13, 2010
Subject:
Hamilton County Bridges
7-12-10
Let me say, first off, that I love your site; I live in east Tennessee
now but I grew up in north central TX (rural Johnson, Hill, and Somervell counties)
and your magazine/website is one of the first places I turn to when I am feeling
deeply homesick. Please keep doing what you're doing.
Anyway, I do have
a specific reason I am writing to you today. I was looking at the series your
photographer, Barclay Gibson, did of bridges in Hamilton County, TX, which are
lovely. His comments on the thorny undergrowth, in particular, made me smile.
We just called them briars, growing up; I believe they are a Smilax species but
I'm not certain. Anyway, it is indeed a tenaciously evil plant. He should try
to remove some sometime! You can't just cut them down and expect them not to come
right back, and their root system consists of these hard, woody tubers... heh,
sorry, thinking about them got me carried away. Here on this side of the Mississippi,
we have kudzu, which is a nightmare as far as invasive plants go, but those briars
are native, and those thorns are vicious and I'd honestly rather try to stop kudzu.
:)
But yes, I suppose if you could pass my appreciation on to Mr. Gibson,
and to your other contributors, I'd be obliged. - Regards, Tracey A. Jones,
May 11, 2009
Concord,
Texas 7-7-10
Subject: A thank you for your Concord Texas story
My
mother is a direct decendant of Col TL Mott. She remembers Concord, Texas fondly.
If your were a Mott, Jones, Horsnby or Hopkins you were most likley related somehow
to someone connected to that town. I often walked the new cemetery site as a child
as June Dinners are still held there every year. I often think of my family history
there. My Great Grandmother married in the Motts and is buried there along with
my Great Grandfather Ocie Earl Mott. the grandson of Col TL Mott. Concord Baptist
Church (founded by R.L Mott still stand at that new location right beside a newly
errected Church building. I want to thank you for including this town in your
studies. I have walked the old road has a child when I was younger. I have even
found a watermelon growing by the old church stairs at the time. The river was
way down that year. It is totally amazing to read on the internet my family history
through your website. I again Thank you so much, it always stirs my interest of
family history. - July 06, 2010
Swastika,
Texas 5-5-10
The swastika or 'sun wheel' is a sacred symbol among American
Indians. That's why the 45th Infantry--the Oklahoma National Guard--used it as
their patch. It was replaced by a stylized thurnderbird. It was featured on the
rosette of the warbonnet of the 'Screaming Sioux,' which was the squadron emblem
for the Lafayette Escadrille, made up of volunteer Americans who flew for the
French (it was actually the air arm of the French Foreign Legion) during WW I.
It was also, prior to WW II, used widely by the Boy Scouts in the US, but not
overseas. Today it is illegal to display a swastika in most of Europe.
During
WW II, fighter pilots in Europe painted small swastikas on their planes--one for
each German plane shot down. Bomber pilots often painted small swastikas on their
planes for each mission flown. Scale models of those aircraft, today, are marketed
all over the world. Instead of swastikas, the decal 'score marks' are usually
small yellow crosses on those models. However, on models of planes from the Pacific
the decals are accurate--representations of Japan's 'rising sun' flag.
Captain
Bong's P-38 had 50 rising suns on it. He was the highest-scoring ace in US history.
He was brought back to the States to train pilots and was killed when a P-80 Shooting
Star, the first US operational jet fighter, flamed out on takeoff. He was testing
the new aircraft. - C.
F. Eckhardt, May 05, 2010
Millsap, Texas
3-27-10
"I was born in Weatherford, was raised in Millsap and different branches
of my family have been in this area since the mid 1800s. As a child I played in
the “Old Millsap Cabin” on the “Old Millsap Place” when it was located on Grindstone
Creek just off the present day Wilson Bend Road several miles outside of town.
There are some old stories about Indian attacks associated with this place and
there was a huge old oak tree in what was then its front yard where it was rumored
that Fuller hung seven dead Indians killed in one of the fights. My brother and
I, would hunt arrow heads there and imagine scenes of the battles when we would
find one.
The cabin you show as the: “Fuller Millsap Cabin, c.1852, the
first building in Millsap” has always been rumored to be the “Old Post Office”
and was associated with Ben Porter but it was never even near Millsap. It was
located on the old stage line between Millsap and Mineral Wells, and to my knowledge,
its “post office” status was only a story. We could never figure out how people
in that time would travel 7 or 8 miles outside of town just for mail.
There are still a few of the old timers around here but most of them that I heard
the stories from have long since passed away and it is getting harder and harder
to even find anyone here that is from the area.
My father is probably one
of the best sources for local history; he was born in Millsap in the 1930s and
lived in Millsap and Brock most of his life." - Wayne Armstrong Millsap, Texas,
March, 2010
Best,
Texas
Dear TE, My grandfather, Richard Baker Jr., was the District
Attorney in Best about 1925. I still have his business card. He was getting ready
to bust some "dishonest" oil guys about 1927, and they laid an ambush for him
coming back from San Angelo. He managed to evade them but they caught him in the
street the next day and broke his jaw. My grandma, who was from Indiana and met
him when he was chasing Pancho Villa, said she was done. They went to have his
jaw fixed at Walter Reed in DC and they left Texas forever. Dad's great grandfather
was a leading citizen in Crockett, Texas. It was a tough way to leave Texas. -
Tom Baker, Kilmarnock, Virginia, January 28, 2010
Bluff Dale, Texas 12-26-09
My ancestors settled in this area. My
grandfather was born in 1872 in Bluff Dale area. Great uncle E.B Dick Dennis was
wounded by Indians. Some reletives are buried in Bluff Dale, some in Granbury.
Great grandfather helped cleared the area of Indians.
I had the privilege
of seeing what was the last herd of wild horses in the late 30s early 40s. - Wayne
Dennis, December 07, 2009.
Zigzag,
Texas 12-6-09
The caption to one of the pictures mentioned the Black
Creek Baptist church, where my grandparents went to church (and my mother currently
attends), is located at the corner of Co Rd 660 and Co Rd 761. Approximately 1.5
miles north on 660 if you turn right from 2200W. It is most certainly 'notable'!
It is over 100 yrs old. I was baptized there myself! - Kevin D. Jackson, Afghanistan,
December 01, 2009
Anarene,
Texas Tidbit 11-30-09
Anarene was the name they gave to Archer
City as being the town in 'The Last Picture Show'. - Mike Price, November 30,
2009
Subject:
The
Bandera Tragedy Tree 10-28-09
Dear Editor, I Just discovered your
article regarding the Bandera Tragedy Tree, my relative is Andrew Jackson Van
Winkle: Military Service: Co. D 18th Regt.. Texas Vol Cav (CSA) of Bell County,
Texas. Andrew is the son of Thomas H. Benton Van Winkle and Elizabeth White Smart,
the daughter of John Smart. I believe, Andrew Jackson Van Winkle and John Smart
were victims in your story. Please let the other families, have my e-mail address
m_hester@verizon.net, so that we can compare notes. Thanks again for your stories,
it's great preserving history! - Melanie Hester, Lexington, Texas, October
20, 2009
Phillips, Texas
Phillips, Texas was not destroyed by the explosion
in the 80's. The town was wiped out due to the death of Mr. Whittenburg who owned
the land the town sat on. In his will there a clause stating that the property
that the township sat on could not be sold without the approval by the Citizens
of Phillips. The children (the ones who ran M & M Cattle Company) went to court
and had the will changed so that they could sell the property to Phillips Petroleum.
Once the sale was final Phillips began evicting the Citizens. The citizens fought
back by hiring F. Lee Bailey to fight the eviction. This injunction staved off
the eviction about 6 months. Several homes were moved to a location just south
of Electric City on a the rim of the Canadian River Canyon and others were moved
to Stinnett and Amarillo.
I was an older teenager when this happened and
my Grandparents lived in Phillips at 212 Cook St. Their house now is in Stinnett.
The explosion that occurred was in the unit of the plant call the Cat Cracker.
My Grandfather was a boiler maker on that unit and was one of the persons that
went in and did the body recovery after the explosion. There was damage in the
town. Mostly blownout and cracked windows, but that was it. I can also safely
say if the sale of the property did not happen, Phillips Petroleum would have
gotten the town shutdown for environmental reasons. One being an open sewage system
in the town. Sewer water had run into the Canadian River all the years I can remember.
I truly miss the old town and wish it still existed." - Victor Taylor, October
17, 2009
Simmons,
Texas 9-24-09
"I was in third grade in the Simmons school in 1945-1946.
It closed that year. The school was brick but it was one story, not two. The previous
school was of wood and had two stories. It burned and, after that, the new school
was built. My mother attended the old school. As a teen I helped tear down the
brick school building. We salvaged the bricks. My dad and I expanded our farm
house with some of these bricks. The Methodist parsonage in George West, Texas
was built from some of these bricks. - Philip Hudson, September 24, 2009
Winnie,
Texas 8-12-09
Subject: Winnie Delight
Dear TE, A couple
of years ago I was browsing Texas Towns for my church youth choir because we were
going to take a WORLD TOUR OF TEXAS TOUR and visit such towns as China, Athens,
Paris, Carthage, Italy….so on and so forth, and I came up on your site, and when
I clicked on Winnie (not because of the world tour, but because it’s my home town)
I was delighted and surprised to see the neon sign from Winnie Pharmacy
on the Winnie page. You see, that was my Dad’s store, and he served as Pharmacist
from 1962 till 1988 when he retired. Co pharmacists were John Gaudet and my father,
Gerald Barrios. I spend many years at the Pharmacy as a child growing up (the
new one was built in 1965) and the neon sign was on the original store across
the street and moved there when the new store was open. It brought back great
memories, and the sign is such a classic. Thanks for adding it to the Winnie page
and for the memories it stirred!!! - Barry Barrios, Katy, Texas, A former Winnie,
August 12, 2009
Conway,
Texas 8-12-09
Back in about 1998 we were returning from visiting Kansas.
There was a snow storm. We made it fine until we got to I-40 out of Amarillo.
Strangest thing. As the storm blew through, it totally covered the westbound lanes
while eastbound was all clear. Guess the interstate acted kind of like a snowfence,
all the snow fell on WB. We were in a traffic line that was miles long and our
gas gage was on E. I never was so glad to see an exit which was to Conway. At
the time there was one station that had gas. We got just enough to make it to
Amarillo. Every time I go by Conway I look at that station, now closed. It is
right next to the Bugg Ranch. - Barclay Gibson, August
11, 2009
Benficklin,
Texas 7-30-09
Subject: The Historical Marker is Not Where the Town
Once Was
The town of Benficklin was not located where the park is,
and the proper way to spell the name of the town is as one word, even though it
was spelled both ways in the 1880s and since. I don’t remember what the official
post office name was. Francis Corbett Taylor was a close friend of Ben Ficklin
and supposedly said that he didn’t want anyone to misunderstand which Ficklin
the town was named for, so he spelled it as one word.
When I was growing
up during the 1950s, I lived on a farm south of San Angelo on the Christoval Road,
near Benficklin. We frequently drove around on Sunday afternoons. My grandparents
had rented the former site of Benficklin to graze cows during the 1920s and 1930s.
At that time, there were still some foundations located on the land. A housing
addition has been built on it now—in fact, the whole area is covered with houses.
It’s the low area along the river west of the granite marker on the hill, on the
west side of Benficklin Road. There is an old dam called Metcalfe Dam on the South
Concho immediately west of the town’s location. I once drove Miss Mary Bain Spence,
whose mother was a sister Charles B. Metcalife, down a road into the area where
the town was located and to Metcalfe Dam. There wasn’t a house anywhere at that
time, probably about 1970. Her mother had told her about the town many times. The
Metcalfe family lived at the stage station and some of them drowned in the Benficklin
Flood of 1882.
The Benficklin Stage Stand was where South Bryant Throughway
crosses the South Concho. In fact, part of the site must have been destroyed to
build the road. The marker for the stage stand at Benficklin park was located
in some trees near a public bathroom, west of the Throughway by the road that
crosses the old Benficklin Causeway. That was where part of the stage stand was
located, according to the late Penrose Metcalfe who was the son of Charles B.
Metcalfe. - Bill Green, Curator of History, Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum,
July 30, 2009
Kimball,
Texas 7-4-09
Dear TE, After reading your article on Kimball ghost town,
in Kimball bend park I decided to take a trip out there. It is not open to the
public, as such. It is in a camp ground that requires a $20 dollar admission fee.
Overnight camping only, no day use. The man at the gate let us drive through only
if we promised to go right in and back out (he seemed perterbed we would even
ask). The wall in the photo on your site is now surrounded by a chain link fence
ruining any photographs or close examination. I was not able to get close enough
to see the rest of the ruins. I just thought I would let you know to warn people…
I burned a lot of gas getting out there only to have to turn right around and
come back. - Steve Watkins, Ft. Worth, July 4, 2009
Mesquite,
Texas 6-19-09
In your information about Mesquite, the school didn't
close until 1952. My home place is across the road from the school and I went
to school there through 1952 when they closed all the little schools in Borden
County and we all went to school in Gail. The last teachers there were Mr. and
Mrs. Bass. Can't remember his first name, but their sons names were George and
Roger. I have many fond memories of good times there. Some of the kids that went
to school there, still live in the community. Thanks very much. - Nancy Telchik
Edwards, Mesquite, Texas (Borden County), June 19, 2009
Taylor,
Texas 3-11-09
Subject: Blazimar
Hotel
Those of us born and raised in Taylor know that the Blazimar
(spelling correction) was named after Bland, Zizinia and Marse. We are unsure
of who the Zilkers might be as they or unknown to Taylorites. By the way, I checked
the Taylor Public Library archives to be certain of my information and the spelling
of The Blazimar. Thank you, Ella Jez, March 10, 2009
Stairtown,
Texas 3-8-09
Dear TE, This is Fred Stair. I was amazed to see anything
on the web about Stairtown, Texas. The town was founded by my grandfather Oscar
F. Stair, born in 1867. The family still owns a part of the townsite (mostly populated
by Mesquite trees). Grandfather came from Bristol, Tennessee to Prairie Lea, Texas
via Alabama. When he was a boy he moved to Luling and founded Stairs Store. It
was a dry goods/ grocery / hardware store and operated into the late 1960s, managed
by my Uncle Neal Stair. I currently reside in faaaaar West Texas. - Fred Stair,
Fort Davis, March 06, 2009
Ganado,
Texas 2-22-09
Subject: His name is "Tex"...
You can imagine
the surprise and pride that my husband had when he was searching for an article
in our Ganado community, when he ran across a picture on Texas Escapes of our
baby "Tex" and his sidekick "Freckles". Tex has been part of our family since
1999, when we bought him at 5 months old. We wanted a longhorn to put on our own
"little piece of Texas". Since then, his picture has been taken by scores of folks
who drive up and down Hwy. 172. Some have driven up the drive and ask to pet him
and get close up shots and he's always a willing subject. I always knew that someday
he would be on a postcard or something similar and here we are! Today he's approx.
1200 lbs with a horn spread of 8' 1" (including the curl). We invite anyone to
come on by and visit.... Thanks for making our boy a celebrity! - Clyde & Gail
McDonald, Ganado, TX, February 22, 2009
Toyah,
Texas 2-19-09
My Great Grandparents are James Mortica Johnson and Mary
Elizabeth Johnson and my Grandfather is John Isaac Johnson. They moved to Toyah
I believe around 1900. and many of my aunts were born there. I believe we share
the same Great Grand Parents!...... Mort was a judge in Toyah from 1906 to 1908
and my Grandfather Ike was a Texas Ranger... - Alma Birdell Johnson's son Pete
Pisciotta of Reno NV, February 10, 2009
Subject:
Richard
Gaertner's Story 2-18-09
Richard lives in the Shady Oaks Nursing Home
in Moulton, as he did when I wrote the article; he was 96 at the time and still
driving. Just wanted to let you know that he just turned 101 - he's in good health
but I don't think he drives anymore. - Murray Montgomery, February 18, 2009
Subject:
Landa
Park 2-13-09
The Landa Park bathhouse underwent extensive renovations
in 2008 and is now a modern and family-friendly facility. Thank you for putting
out public information on our facilities. - Sheri Reinhold, City of New Braunfels
Parks & Recreation Marketing Coordinator, February 13, 2009
Subject:
George Campbell
Childress 2-1-09
I discovered [Texas Escapes] just last week and have
found it to be quite informative and rich in content. I did notice an error, however,
in [your article] on 10 Things You Should Know About George Campbell Childress:
Thomas Rusk did not die by throwing himself overboard in Galveston. He committed
suicide in his own home in Nacogdoches; being despondent over his wife's death
and over a tumor at the base of his neck. The gentleman that threw himself (or
fell overboard) into Galveston Bay was 1838 Republic of Texas presidential candidate
(and sitting Chief Justice) James Collinsworth. - Bob Liles, February 01, 2009
Subject:
Swisher
County Courthouse 2-1-09
The old courthouse was severely damaged in
a fire and HAD to be rebuilt. No one here likes the new style, but something had
to be done--it wasn't destroyed arbitrarily. - Joe Weaver, Director Tulia Chamber
of Commerce Swisher County Industrial Foundation, August 12, 2008
Coolidge,
Texas 1-20-09
Dear TE, I just queried Coolidge, Texas and got your
website story and pictures. I can't tell you what grand memories that brought
back. My grandparents and many of their siblings and children lived in Coolidge.
The "Hancock Appliance" sign hung over the store that belonged to my great uncle...Joe
Wallace Hancock. My grandparents lived (for as long as I knew them) at the NW
corner of 3rd and Jester. Their house is long since gone. My great-grandparents,
grandparents and my father are buried in the Coolidge cemetery. I spent many happy
times in Coolidge (and lived there for 1.5 years as a child). Thank you for the
article and pictures. I remember how Coolidge was in the late 40's and on into
the early 60's. I still have kinfolk who live there. Thanks for the memories.
- Brenda Sutterfield, Tulsa, Oklahoma, January 20, 2009
Kress,
Texas 10-11-08
Kress of New Deal
I just wanted to share
the fact that I was actually named after this town. My parents grew up in Lubbock
and although I was raised in the small town of New Deal, we have a family tradition
of names beginning with K, so I became Kress. I have been to Kress a few times
but all I can remember is the Alsups [store]. When I was younger people would
tell me that I should run for mayor of Kress. I am just not old enough yet! -
Kress Hoopes, Odessa Texas, October 10, 2008
Valentine
to Valentine 10-9-08
My father, Pedro "Pete" Barragan grew up in Valentine from the early 1930's until
he graduated college back in the 1950's. As I grew up, we regularly took trips
every summer back to Valentine to visit my father's aunts (Augustina, Ernestina,
Tomasa, Viviana, Agapeta and a few whose names I forget). We also visited Dad's
uncle, Rodrigo Barragan. "Uncle Rod" owned and operated the Texaco service station
in the middle of town. I have many fond memories of family visits and still get
back to Valentine every year. Although the Barragan family no longer lives there,
the Barragan heart and spirit are still there. - John P. Barragan, Los Angeles,
California, September 29, 2008
Temple
Texas 8-6-08
In the section about the cellar bookstore...... The name
of that bookstore is "The Book Cellar" My kids think it's a real treat to go there!
I enjoy your website! - Paula Jones, August 06, 2008
Noodle, Texas 8-4-08
I was actually raised in Noodle and went to
school there as were my brothers. I was married in the Noodle Church of Christ
and actually lived in the house next door on the south side of the church. The
house was purchased by Mr. & Mrs. Tony and was torn down.
We were taught
in school that the word Noodle came from an Indian scout that was in search of
water and he came across the creek just north of Noodle and it was dry. In his
language noodle meant dry. - Melissa Nichols Beasley, Wichita Falls, Texas,
August 04, 2008
Falfurrias,
Texas 7-31-08
I graduated from Fal Hi in May of 1952, and that's me
leading the Marching Band. I was Drum Major for the school years 1950-51 and 1951-52.
The FIRST movie theater, called the "Cactus", was on Main St. near the
Creamery. After the Pioneer was built it was kept open for awhile, showing only
the B-rated "oaters", while the "new" Pioneer Theater showed the "latest" shows.
It was closed after a relatively short time. I don't know what happened to the
building it was in. Then, the Alameda was opened across Hwy.281, and, as your
site shows, it is no longer in operation. Thanks! - Carleen Frazier, July 31,
2008
La Porte, Texas 7-17-08
I really appreciate your website, it's very
interesting and fun to read. One small correction about your La Porte, TX section
is that the Washburn Tunnel connects Pasadena with the East End of Houston (near
Channelview) via Federal Rd. The Baytown Tunnel (I don't think it was ever named
after anyone or anything) connected Baytown with La Porte via 225/146 (where the
Fred Hartmann bridge is located now). I lived in La Porte for about 10 years and
my Dad grew up there. If you get a chance, drive down Main St. in La Porte to
see a lot of the great old buildings in town. The old theater is a church now
that my Dad used to go to when he was a kid in the late '50s. El Ranchero restaurant
is some of the best Tex-Mex you can have on the Gulf Coast. Thanks, Tim Holmes,
Jr., Houston, Texas, July 17, 2008
Subject:
Woman Hollering
Creek 7-8-08
The Myth Is: A Women drowned her children and she was
crying because she killed them. I've heard that you can hear her calling their
names and weeping, I guess you'd say. The Indian Myth Is Not True. - Crystal
Martin, July 08, 2008
Orla,
Texas 6-26-08
Subject: Orla
Baptist Mission
James Hughes was pastor of this church in 1953 – pic
is of James, Sallie & Janet Hughes. We would drive out from Pecos on Sunday morning,
and quite often were invited to someone’s home for lunch and the afternoon instead
of driving back to Pecos and back out for the evening service. We were there when
Hall Olds had the only service station and café. We now live in Conroe, TX and
I retired from Alsay Inc (industrial water well drilling co) after 20 plus years
as comptroller there. I was born and raised in Pecos – graduating from Pecos Hi
in 1949. - Sallie Hughes, September 12, 2007
Subject:
Gallery of Forgotten Bridges 6-19-08
What great photos!! I was doing
some research on an old bridge in Ballinger and happened upon your site. There
is one bridge you identify in your Forgotten Gallery as the Concho
River bridge – I believe it is also known as the Lone Wolf Bridge. Keep up
the great work – very interesting and educational! - Kathy Keane, San Angelo,
June 18, 2008
Terrell
County Courthouse and Eagle 6-14-08
The picture of the original Terrell
County, Texas, courthouse showing the eagle atop the parapet and another picture
showing an eagle atop a rock and claiming to be the "recovered original eagle"
referred to above is totally inaccurate. Measuring the width of the wingspan of
the eagle atop the parapet of the original courthouse compared to the width of
the courthouse, then measuring the width of the wingspan atop the rock in front
of the courthouse that claims to be the "recovered eagle" shows the inaccuracy
of the statement and fact that a lot of money was wasted to purchase a much smaller
eagle and a lot of truth was wasted in claiming that it was the "recovered original
eagle". Do the measurements yourself! - J.A. Gilbreath, June 10, 2008
Soash,
Texas 6-10-08
There are still Soash people there my parents Howard
and Pearl Armstrong. My dad, went to Soash elementary school there and to this
day my parents still live in eastern Soash community. They are not the only ones
that live there. Mammie Merrick lives across the street from the old bank building.
She and her deceased husband Bob Merrick, I believe lived there almost their entire
married life together. Bob passed away earlier this year, but Mammie still lives
there with one of their 8 children. All the rest has died or have moved away like
I have done in years past. But the Armstrongs and the Merricks will live there
until they die. Believe me I have tried to get my parents to move closer to Big
Spring, but they are not leaving Soash, Texas. Thanks. - Diann Owens, June
10, 2008
Subject:
Earl
Ables article 5-28-08
Thanks for the memories. I was stationed at
Lackland in 1957 and 1958 and sort of adopted by Dr Passmore and his family who
were members of First Presbyterian Church and who lived in Alamo
Heights. Earl Able's, which was not far from where they lived, became a hangout
for his kids and I. The restaurant and signs were already there then and were
not new. I would estimate that they had been around from as early as 1950, although
probably changed from time to time. One I remember was over the door as you left.
It said:
I EAT HERE TOO!
EARL ABLE
The food was great, but what
I liked most was the welcoming atmosphere. It reminded me of home and of Jack
Trayer's on Moore Street in Bristol, Virginia/Tennessee, where I grew up. Everybody's
hometown should have such a place. - John McDaniel, April 17, 2008
Subject:
Hanging tree in Shelby County
5-28-08
The article written about the hanging tree in
Shelby County says that the County sheriff and City Marshall were Charlie B. Christian
and Bryan McCallum. Charlie B. Christian, my father, was born in 1921. He was
the sheriff in the 50's and 60's and deputy sheriff in the late 40's. - May
26, 2008
Subject:
Hatching Green headed
Mallards 5-26-08
Ed, Interestingly, I was searching
the web for information on hatching mallard eggs and your short story popped up
as priority under my search parameters. My folks had a Mallard hen nesting at
their front door. After laying 14 eggs, the neighborhood cats sniffed her out
and she ultimately abandoned her brood. I called a buddy you had hatched chickens
in the past and borrowed his incubator. Results and still unknown as I am just
two weeks in. I got such a kick out of your story that I printed it for my dad
to read. Your father's reaction was so typical of what my father would have done
if faced with the same scenario. I love your writing style. Great job! And please
continue... Sincerely, Drew G. Mullert, New Bedford, MA, May 22, 2008
Atascosa
County Courthouse 5-7-08
I was pleased to find your page with several
renderings of the Atascosa County court house, past and present. I was rather
amused at the "legend" you repeated about moving the court house from Pleasanton
to Jourdanton. Actually, only the records were moved (stolen, as I heard it )
and the old court house in Pleasanton was still in its place when I was a child,
serving as the Pleasanton City Hall. By the time it was demolished to make way
for the widening of US 281 through town in the mid 1950's, the upper floor had
been condemned, as I recall, but the city offices were still housed there. The
present city hall stands on what is left of the old grounds of the Pleasanton
Court House.
That "legend" may be a version of a story a gentleman told
on himself . When he first came to Atascosa County, it was about the time that
the county seat had been moved, and feelings were still very raw about that event.
It so happened that at least two other county seats were being moved about the
same time, and this hapless gentleman suggested to a group of Pleasanton citizens
at a "friendly" gabfest that perhaps they should just put all the courthouses
on railroad cars and roll them around that way until they decided for sure where
they should go. He said that he hardly got the words out of his mouth before every
man within hearing of him had drawn their pistols on him. Only after the most
abject and profuse apology was he able to convince those men to holster their
weapons. He never made that mistake again. I happened to have read this story
just today in a book published by the Atascosa History Committee in 1985. Thanks
again for a good page. - Marcy Porter, May 06, 2008
Alamo
Heights, Texas 4-24-08
Re-the trolley stop by Rodriguez-he also did
work on the old mill in North Little Rock Arkansas-which is in the opening scene
of "Gone with the Wind." - George Pecan, April 23, 2008
Subject:
Ruidosa, Tx church picture 4-18-08
The picture of the church ruins
is of a church in Ruidosa, Tx as you are leave heading toward Candelaria, Tx -
Florencio Garcia, March 26, 2008
Click,
Texas 4-17-08
Click, Texas was named for my great-great grandfather.
I have an envelope that was kept by family members that has a Click, Texas postmark.
There is quite a bit of history about the Click and Walker family that has been
donated to the Llano, Texas city library. Many of the family members are buried
in the Comanche West Cemetery just 'south' of the former town. The name of the
cemetery is sometimes referred to as the Click and Walker cemetery. - Anna
Galloway, Austin, Texas, April 17, 2008
Subject:
Architect Thomas Lovell 4-17-08
The ”Bunch” (sic) Miller noted in
this story is Bluford West Miller. He was the son of Bluford Miller, a Cherokee
rancher in the Creek Nation, and Lizzie Anderson, a Creek (Muskogee) tribal member.
His ranch, the IX, was founded by his grandfather Rider Fields after the removal
of the 5 Civilized Tribes to Indian Territory, and is located south of Tulsa,
in present-day Okmulgee County, OK. It is still active today and run by his descendents...
- Steven Miller, Austin, April 12, 2008
Texon,
Texas 4-17-08
I was born and raised in Texon. The old building pictured
with the mailboxes in front was actually the Post Office for many years. It was
owned by my parents and leased by the Postal Service. The front half of the building
was the Post Office. My Mother, Bertha Delz, was the postmaster for many years
and retired there. - Ronnie Delz, April 03, 2008
Donna,
Texas
Subject:
Central Elementary School 4-17-08
It's a beautiful, old building.
I was heartsick some years back when I heard it was to be torn down. Somehow it
was rescued. The brick is gorgeous. I was a first grader there in 1949. It certainly
was NOT intimidating. It's a lovely old building with some architectural design,
instead of the square blah buildings seen nowadays. All of my siblings and lots
of friends went to school there, too. I WAS very grateful, though, to see photograph
by Mr. Taylor on your web site. I'm writing an article about my first grade experience
in old CE. It was fun to see it again. We haven't lived in Donna for more than
25 years. Thanks, Linda Smith, April 09, 2008
Subject:
Patriots by Mike Cox "Texas Tales"3-27-08
Mr. Cox omitted a famous
veteran of the American Revolutionary War who came to Texas. It was "Elder" John
Parker. John PARKER was a Revolutionary Soldier, Serial # S32435. He served in
the 2nd and 13t h Regiment of the Continental Army of VA. He had a brother named
Daniel and a sister named Susannah. After the war, John and Sarah White-Parker
moved to Elbert Co., GA. Here John was made an Elder in the Primitive Baptist
Church. He moved to Bedford Co., TN and lived there for about twelve y ears, and
then moved his family to Crawford County, IL in 1814. It was here on the 28th
day of July, 1821 that Sarah "SALLY" WHITE died. It was also here that JOHN remarried.
He married SALLY PINSON-DUTY, the 21st of March 1825. He and his wife were killed
at the Parker's Fort Massacre, in Robertson's Colony now Limestone County, on
May 19, 1836.
His application for a RS Pension was made while in ILL
before he came to TX in 1833.
His grand daughter is known in TX history
- Cynthia Ann Parker mother to the famous last chief of Comanches - Quanah Parker.
Thank you, Jim Yarbrough, 4th great grandson of Elder John Parker,
March 27, 2008
Odds,
Texas 3-13-08
Subject: Odds Store
My father Earl Hancock
operated the Odds store from 1934-1943 and during that time there were two other
stores. As a child I can remember wagon loads of cotton waiting to be ginned.
There was a lot of activity around the gin in those days. The Great Depression
brought hard times to the area. Also, I remember that a young man with his wife
and young child came to our store one day after walking from Thornton, TX. He
had been hurt while taking his family off a train in that town. They were very
hungry and needed help. The young man asked my Dad if there was any work he could
do to pay for a meal for his family. My Dad said "Go pick up that broom over
there by the wall." The young man did as he was told. My dad then said, "Now
put the broom down." The family was well fed and were bedded down in the
cotton seed warehouse across the road from our store. While leaving the next morning
the young man got my Dad's mailing address. Ten years later my Dad received a
check from California with a note thanking him for the help. Thanks, Earl Hancock
Jr., Woodway, Texas, March 13, 2008
Hochheim,
Texas 3-10-08
Subject: Valentin
Hoch
Golden,
Texas 3-8-08
Subject: Golden
Memories
Ira,
Texas 3-7-08
Subject: Re: Benjamin Harrison's son in Ira, Texas
I love your site & read some of it every day. It's a great way to plan little
road excursions around the state & I love to cemetery hunt. Reading about Ira
was interesting, but my question is that if President Benjamin Harrison was born
in 1833 & he wasn't married until 1853, how could he have had a son who was killed
by the Indians in 1849? I would think that would be impossible. Are you sure that
you don't mean President William Henry Harrison (our 9th President)? Thank you
for your help in this matter & keep up the great work!!! Sincerely, Ms. Kay
Garsea, February 19, 2008
Corinth
Baptist Church & Cemetery 3-4-08
Subject: Willie D. Garrison
As a relative of the late Willie D. Garrison I feel obligated to notify you
that an error exists in the article as it reads. The aforementioned Great Uncle
of mine did indeed serve as listed, however, he [did not die in Vietnam as stated
but] died at home in 1970 of leukemia. My Grandfather was Sgt. Charlie George
Garrison, Willie D. Garrison's oldest brother. Willie D. Garrison's wife, Azel,
my great aunt, is still living here in the Houston area and could be reached to
verify such matters if need be. I thank you again for your article as a whole,
as it details a number of relatives of mine and is encouraging to know that they
are not forgotten for their places and submissions in history. - Sincerely,
Kelley J. Stubblefield, March 04, 2008
Comal
River 3-3-08
Subject: The Meaning of "comal"
First of all,
thank you for your service! It has been very helpful.
I would like to note
that "comal" does not mean basin in Spanish. For starters, it is an indigenous
word in origin accepted into the Spanish language because of its popular use.
"Comal" is a slightly curved pan made of clay or metal on which tortillas are
cooked and coffee/cocoa beans are toasted. The Spanish word for basin is "Cuenca".
- Maritza Price, March 03, 2008
Tehuacana,
Texas 3-4-08
The church listed as New Hope is not closed. It is alive
and membership is maintain and current services are being held as of today. Thanks.
- Former minister/ pastor of the church.... Tony Thibodeaux, Waco Texas,
March 03, 2008
Booker,
Texas 2-12-08
My family has lived in the area around Booker since
the early 1900s. I am actually the fourth generation to graduated from Booker
High School. Booker has always been in the shape of a square while the cemetery
has been in the shape of a heart and is named Heart Cemetery. The cemetery was
recently put on the historical registry of Texas. - Vanessa Harper, Booker,
Texas , February 11, 2008
Kopernic
Shores, Texas 2-11-08
Kopernic Shores is now called Boca Chica
Village. Just like the sign says. And there are only about 5 Polish descendents
that own house's here. There are only 6 of us ( English, Norwegian, Irish, American
Indian etc. ) people that live here all year long. So please help us spread the
word that this village is Called Boca Chica Village. - Terry Heaton, February
09, 2008
Chillicothe,
Texas 1-19-08
Subject: Chillicothe Irises in San Francisco
Just wanted to say thank you for the info on Chillicothe; my father grew up there.
The Methodist Church is where my grandmother and grandfather met, married, and
were both eulogized upon their passing. When I bought my home in California, I
obtained some Iris bulbs from my Father who took a handful when they sold the
house there. That Iris Village is alive and well in San Francisco and my children
think the violet ones are the most beautiful flowers they have ever seen (and
they are). Thanks again, Bruce Derr, son of Walker Derr, son of E.L Derr, Sr.,
January 18, 2008
Langtry,
Texas 1-16-08
I just Google'd Langtry, Tx and had the pleasure to
find your website. I cannot tell you how much I enjoy your work. We are winter
Texans and enjoy the great state of Texas and your website has just made it a
lot easier to decide where to make our stops. We are currently staying at Del
Rio and exploring Lake Amistad, I love old westerns and was excited to see how
close we were to Langtry. We are making a day trip to the town today and your
website has helped me, I know where to go and what to see. Again Thank you for
your great work. - Joe and Donna Carpentier, January 15, 2008
Belle
Plain, Texas 1-14-08
Subject: Ancestors Graves in Belle Plain
Dear TE, I ran across [your magazine] as I was googling Belle Plain, Texas and
thought I would share a story about that ghost town.
My great grandfather
was born in Belle Plain in September of 1887 at the height of BP's success. His
name was Burney Lafayette (Bun) Gist.
Burney's grandfather/mother - my
ggg-grandparents are buried in the Belle Plain cemetery. Both of their headstones
are still standing to this day. Their names as engraved on the stones are: D.H.
Gist (David Hamilton Gist d. 1894) and Pamela Gist d. 1893. They came to Belle
Plain from Kentucky between 1870-1880. DH was a saddler and a farmer in Belle
Plain and the kids and grandkids worked on farms there too as I understand it.
DH and Pam Gist had many children that they also brought to BP including my gg-grandfather
and Burney's father Nathaniel Lafayette Gist.
After Belle Plain died,
Nathaniel took his family including Burney (Belle Plain native) and moved to the
Red River area mainly Vernon and Quanah. Burney's son, my grandfather was born
in Vernon. His name was Burney Lafayette Gist Jr. or B.L. as he known by. Anyway,
their are still many Gist's in the Abilene, Texas area that are descendants of
DH Gist from Belle Plain (who are no doubt all kin to me).
Anyway, the
reason I wrote y'all was that I have direct ties to Belle Plain and appreciate
the photos you all have placed on the web. They are a glimpse of my family history
and I wanted to say thank you! I have been trying to get a free weekend so I can
drive out there and see my ggg grandparents graves and clean their headstones,
etc. Just thought y'all would appreciate my little story about Belle Plain, Texas.
- Benton Gist, Kennedale, Texas, January 11, 2008
Littlefield, Texas 1-14-08
Living Above the Palace (Theater,
that is.)
Dear Texas Escapes, Man, oh man, Can I add to the stories about
the old Palace theater! My family and I lived up on the 3rd floor of that theater
for about 2 years. My step dad managed all of those theaters right up till about
the time they all closed. My whole family worked there in the theater at one time
or another. I remember when Elmer Koller retired. We worked originally for some
people from Andrews, Texas. I can't remember their names except the lady's name
was Bea. I do remember that the theater started to go downhill. Then a man named
Bill Boren bought several theaters from those folks. I remember how hard we worked
to get them back in shape. We operated theaters in Morton, Muleshoe, Littlefield,
and the drive-inn in Amherst all at the same time.
My mother also worked
in the Palace in several positions back in the late 50's and early 60's. She worked
at the Palace, and the XIT Drive-Inn. At the same time Waylon Jennings worked
there. When we lived there the whole theater was MY playground when the theater
was closed. I knew every inch of the place. I also recall going down under the
stage where there was an old orchestra pit from the silent era. ALL over down
there was painted "Waylon Loves Betty" in different variations...."Waylon + Betty"....etc.
I also painted my name along with my girlfriend's right next to where my
mother's name was with Waylon Jennings. My mother was Betty Bales back then. As
a child I was friends with two of Waylon's children. I dont remember his daughter's
name, but his son Buddy was my friend.
Right before my stepdad accepted
a job in Lubbock managing theaters there, I ran the inventory for all the concession
stands for Boren Theaters. Man, oh man, I dont know what ever happened to all
those movie posters, but at one time in the room next door to the theater I bet
there was 5,000 posters. Elmer Koller kept up with all those like it was his life.
He could tell you where every great movie poster in that room was...and show them
to you if you asked.
My stepdad used to run the projectors down there
on Elmer's night off, and the week Elmer went deer hunting, and I'd get to go
up there and hang around and learn how to operate the projectors.
I spent
many many entire Saturdays there watching the same movie over and over until my
mother about had to drag me and my friends and cousins out of there kicking and
sceaming....or come in and wake us up to take us home.
I have Mr. Fairbaim's
picture of the Palace in 1975 as my screen saver. - Marc Giles, Odessa Texas,
January 11, 2008
Baird,
Texas 1-11-08
Subject: Aviation cadets take a break in front of
the T & P Depot at Baird in January of 1943
I found [this] photo
in my Dad's World War II album. He was an aviation cadet on a transcontinental
troop train that stopped in Baird in January 1943... more
- David Schoeck, Dana Point, CA, January 09, 2008
Fargo,
Texas 1-1-08
Dear TE, Unlike Gertrude Stein's Cleveland, there is
a there there in Fargo. I think someone on your staff took (a wrong turn) to Doans,
thinking they'd go through Fargo on the way. No wonder they didn't find Fargo.
You can get to Doans via Fargo, but the trick is to take FM 2916 straight to Doan's
from Highway 283 (the one connecting Vernon, Texas with Altus, Oklahoma).
In Fargo, there's not only the Fargo Church of Christ (of which you have
a picture) but also a cotton gin. You can buy a soft drink from the machine in
the gin office. That's not exactly like having a store, but it beats nothing.
Fargo also has several houses in all directions from the intersection that marks
the center of "downtown." Fargo used to have a post office, a blacksmith, a store
with a soda fountain, a place to get a hamburger or a griddle-cooked steak --
all at one time or another from the earliest days of the settlement. Fargo Methodist
Church is one mile west and one mile north of Highway 283.
Across from
the Methodist Church is Northside School, grades K-12. Northside Independent School
District was created from five area districts back in the 1930s. The six-man football
team won state in its division in 2006. The 125th celebration of the Doan's Crossing
May Picnic is coming up this year (2008). Interest in Doan's seems to be growing,
especially since the Western Cattle Trail has been marked by little obelisks all
the way across Texas to Doan's. I believe it's marked all the way to Dodge City,
for that matter. I will try to find time to send more information on Doan's and
Fargo. - Hanaba Munn Welch, Fargo, January 01, 2008
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